CARE Court

Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment Court also known as CARE Court is a new program that was developed through legislation (SB 1338) to help people who have a diagnosis in the schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorder diagnosis receive care through county behavioral health services. 

CARE Court is a civil court process that begins when a person files a petition to request the court to order behavioral health care for someone who is:  

• 18 years or older 
• Experiencing untreated and serious mental illness and has a diagnosis in the schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorder diagnosis 
• Not clinically stabilized in ongoing voluntary treatment
• The person is unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision and the person's condition is substantially deteriorating
• The person needs services and support to prevent a relapse or deterioration that would likely result in grave disability or serious harm to the person or others
• CARE Court would be the least restrictive alternative to ensure the person’s recovery and stability  
• The person will likely benefit from participation in CARE Court 

A person who:  

• Is 18 years or older 
• Experiencing untreated and serious mental illness and has a diagnosis in the schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorder diagnosis 
• The person has not been able to stabilize in voluntary treatment. 
• CARE Court would be the least restrictive alternative to ensure the person’s recovery and stability
• The person will likely benefit from participation in CARE Court; and

Meets one of the following:  

• The person is unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision and the person’s condition is substantially deteriorating 
• The person needs services and support to prevent a relapse or deterioration that would likely result in grave disability or serious harm to the person or others 

Various groups can file petitions, including: 

• County behavioral health agencies 
• Family members 
• First responders 
• Public guardians or conservators 
• Hospital directors 
• Behavioral health providers 
• Roommates/housemates 

Find information on filing a petition. 

Contact DPH if you have questions about a person’s eligibility for CARE Court: 

DPH CARE Court Team 
carecourtconsultation@sfdph.org 
628-217-5171 

Find the petition form on the San Francisco Superior Court website: https://sf.courts.ca.gov/divisions/civil-division/care-act-court 

If you know someone who is experiencing a behavioral health crisis, call 911 or connect with the following services:  

• Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) San Francisco General Hospital  
  1001 Potrero Avenue  
  628-206-8125  
  24/7  
• Comprehensive Crisis Services  
  415-970-3800  
  24/7 

If a person does not require emergency services but needs urgent support, contact these services:  

• Westside Crisis  
  415-355-0311  
  245 11th Street  
  8:00am - 3:30pm Monday- Friday  
• Dore Urgent Care  
  52 Dore Street  
  415-553-3100  
  24/ 7  

If a person is not in crisis but needs support connecting to voluntary services:  

Contact the Behavioral Health Access Center or Treatment Access Program to determine eligibility and appropriateness for different treatment options.  

• Behavioral Health Access Center (BHAC)  
  1380 Howard Street 
  8:00am – 7:00 pm Monday – Friday 
  9:00am – 4:00 pm Saturday & Sunday  

24-hour access line for support navigating mental health and substance use care 

• 888-246-3333